President Donald Trump is not a big fan of open government. He likes to implement policies without having to deal with annoying inconveniences, like input from the public.
For example, if you were chair of the Federal Communications Commission and you wanted to spend your time handing out favors to huge phone and internet providers like AT&T, T-Mobile and Comcast, having to consider public input would be quite a nuisance. That’s what is happening right now, on an issue that affects nearly everyone.
The current FCC chair, Ajit Pai, is a former Verizon lobbyist who has repeatedly disregarded the public interest in enacting rules. He’s still doing that on net neutrality.
In 2015, the FCC implemented rules that prohibited providers from blocking online content or creating “fast lanes” and “slow lanes” on the internet — rules that were supported by 83% of voters. But phone and internet providers hated those rules, and one of the first actions Pai took after his becoming FCC chair in 2017 was to eliminate them.
Now he’s at it again.
A court recently held that Pai’s legal reasoning for getting rid of net neutrality meant that the FCC could not regulate internet-based 911 services, provide subsidies for internet service for low-income households or control how internet providers installed wires and cables. The court kicked the proceeding back to the FCC to address these regulations, which requires another opportunity for the public to comment.
Pai has set the shortest possible comment deadline of March 30 — once again demonstrating that he’s not interested in public input.
One of the cornerstones of our democracy, enshrined in the First Amendment, is the right to petition the government for redress. This principle permeates every level of policymaking in this country.
Goodman is technology equity director at the Greenlining Institute, a nonprofit group based in Oakland, Calif., that works for racial and economic justice.